Rubber shoe



A. M. BRUCE.

RUBBER SHOE.

APPLICATION flLED JULY 26,19l9.

' 1 ,335,273, Patented Mar.30,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lawe saw A. M. BRUCE.

RUBBER-SHOE.

APPLICAHON FILED J'ULY 26.1919.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. 5 W W v///.,C/v 1 wm A E SE;

UNITED STATES PATENT. ()FFICE.

ANDREW M. BRUCE, OFIRA, MISSOURI.

RUBBER SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131. 30, 1920. i

Application filed July 26, 1919'. Serial No. 313,517.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ANDREW M. BRUCE, a v,citizen of the United States, residing at Ira,

in the county of Laclede and State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rubber Shoes, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Rubber shoes are indispensable articles of footwear for wet and snowyweather, owing to their waterproof qualities, but one of the greatobjections to such footwear is that they cause the feet to sweatconsiderably,

moreso with some persons, than with others,

particularly because their feet perspire more than those of others,especially when the feet are heavily clad.

Therefore, this invention aims to provide an article of footwear, whichmay be used as a rubber shoe, or as a lining for the old style shoe, andwhen employed as in the latter case, it is worn on the inside of theshoe and adapted to receive the foot. However, in the former use, namelyas a rubber shoe proper, the sole of the shoe is designed to be more orless heavy, in order to provlde a firm tread surface. Furthermore, it isthe aim to construct the shoe, whether used as such, or as a lining,with means, in order to thoroughly ventilate the feet, namely, to permita thorough circulation of air between the feet and the interior of theshoe, in order to prevent excessive sweating or perspiring of the feet.

' The invention further aims to provide an improved, simple, efiicientand practical shoe or linlng, which may be manufactured for V arelatively low cost and sold at a reasonable profit.

The invention further aims to. afford a shoe of this character made upof an interior smooth portion around the foot, the ankle and a portionof the leg above the ankle, and an exterior corrugated piece hav ing itscorrugations cemented and vulcanized to the interior piece, soarrangedthat the channels between the corrugations and the interiorpiece are communicatively connected with a hollow sole, the hollow ofwhich communicatively connects with the interior of the shoe, therebypermitting of a thorough circulation of air through the channels, thehollow of the sole, and into the interior of the shoe around the foot,

7 shoe.

shoe of this character, which may be constructed to extend a trifleabove the ankle in some cases, or may be constructed in the form of ashoe havinga legging extension, which also has corrugations formingchannels communicatively connectingwith the hollow of the sole of theshoe.

The invention further aims to construct ashoe of any suitable rubberizedfabric, preferably a composition of canvas and rubber or the like, andmade up of sections of such material, the parts being rubber cementedand vulcanized, so as to hold the parts together.

The invention further aims to provide secure fastening means for thevarious joints between the pieces or parts of the shoe or the lining,such as strips of rubberized tape or the like, that is a materialconsisting of a composition of fabric such as canvas and rubber, saidstrips being rubber cemented andvulcanized on the seams between thepieces or parts of the shoe or lining.

.The invention further aims to afford a construction of shoe, which maybe of the low quarter type, namely alittle belowthe ankle, and in thiscase, the shoe may be worn on the exterior of an ordinary leatherHowever, in this case, the foot proper will not be in direct contactwith the circulation of air, but instead the air will circulate underthe sole of the leather shoe:

The invention further aims to afford a shoe of this kind, which, asbefore stated,

may be constructed with a legging extension,

and in this case, the front portion of the legging is provided with anopening to be laced in order to be closed, there being a suitablecovering or tongue or intermediate piece (whichhas folds) between thelaced edges ofthe openings and the leg of the wearer. By means of thefolds in this?- tongue or intermediate piece, a thorough circulation ofair may. travel down the tongue or inner piece and the leg, and therebycirculate through the hollow sole.

. The invention further aims to provide an opening at the rear of theshoe, particularly adapted for facilitating the pulling on andtaking'oif of the sl ce, namely to permit of an easy insertion orextraction of the foot .10 into and from the shoe.

This opening also prevents the shoe from excessively rubbing the ankle,-that is allows the shoe to fit more or less loose around the ankle,therebyalso allowinga circulation of -airthrough the shoe andthe foot. 1

:Theinvention fu-rtlieraimsto provide a flap or-tongue at the rearof-the shoe, to .coverthe aforesaid opening atfthe rear, to -l eepout"the wet and dampness.

Theinvention further aims to provide a shoe of thischaracter, whichcomprises a vamp portion of corrugated material, and

-1a corrugated upper, which are adhesively united: across the instep ofthefoot by rububer cement and a vulcanized rubberized strip, and toapply: this vulcanizedru bberized strip, it is caused'tobe formed intocor rugation's, owing to fitting into the exterior 3o corrugations ofth'e'vam'p and the upper,

thereby communicativ ely connecting the inner channels of thecorri'igated vamp and upper, allowinga circulation of air therethrough.

berized tape to be fastened to the adjacent edges of the vamp andthe'upper, without 4 0 the tapes becoming corrugated to correspond withthe corrugations ofthe vamp and the upper. I

VVhi le the design and construction at present illustrated and set forthis deemed rubber shoe, including a leggingextension,

and being constructed in accordance with the invention.

. Fig. .2 is a front elevation of a portion of the shoe, at a pointwherethelegging extension extends from the upper of the shoe, vshowing thedetail construction betweenthe .uppe 'of the shoe and the legginge-Xten-' :sion.

opening, between the inner surface of the construction of the shoeat Ifdesired,- the united edges of: the vamp and the upper may preferablyspread out, instead of corrugated, though; not necessarily, therebypermitting the rub pertorations o preferable, it is obvious that as aresult of 7 ;Fig. 3 is horizontal fsectionalfview on I 'line 3+3 of Fig.1', showing the seam 1n the front adjacent the instep portion of theshoe, and showing the opening at the rear, that is opposite the frontseam, showing-the covering flap on the interior, and the tape of theseam at the lower portion of the heel oftheshoe. 7 I

Fig. a is a vertical. sectional View on line 4.lof- Fig. 1', moreclearly showing the construction of the shoe and the legging extension,showing commun i'ca'tiveconnections betweenthte channels o'f the'corrugations and the hollow sole. V Fig. 5 is -a vertical sectionalviewon line55 ofFig-l, showing the maiii'iei':-of theght angles to bowing thecomthat shown iii-Fig. it, also s inunicative connection between thechannels ofthe corrugations andthe hollow ofthe s le o Fig. 6 asectional view on'l in'e 6+6jof n j v V Fig. 7 is a view of a ri'i bbershoe with" the logging 7 extensionomitted, otherwise 1 theeonstri'iction-of this shoe is thefisameas-the lower part of the shoe inthe other figures,

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the sole of the shoe or liningas a whole, and

this sole comprises the upper and lower pieces 2 and 3,which may beconstructed of.

. any suitable material, preferably rubberized fabric, such as acompos-ition ofanvas and i rubber; The pieces '2' and 3 may be anysuitable shape, l3 f'elit llly :to conform to *the per" piece ispro-videdw-ith a plurzilityy'of and-lower pieces u'e heldspaced apart,to provide a hollow 5-," by means of the cushi'on :lllGIllb'GlS 6.Thesezcushion'members may-be constructed of any suitable material,preferabl'y rubberized fabric, such as a compo- I outline of the bottomof-thefoot. T he uppenings 4-, and the upper sition of canvas andrubber, or may be coni structed of rubb alone, and may be anysuitablesh-ape, preferably cylindrical, though not necessarily. By meansof these cylindric-al spacing members orcuslii'onso, the upper piece maymove-'yield-ably toward the bottom or sole piece proper. Thesespacingor-t'cushi'oning members may be rubber 'ceinented or vulcanizedand'interm'ediate the upperand lower pieces 2 and13. A'vamp is provided,and it consists of the inner.

and outerpieces 8 and 9. The inner piece "Sis smooth, or mother wordsplain, while the outerpiece 9 is corri igated, as shown at 10 in Fig. 1These corrugations extend in the directions as shownp'and certain portions of the corrugations are rubber cement cd or vulcanized 1 to theinner Plitll].P1606,

so to afford channels between certain of the corrugations and the plainp ece; The

inner plain piece *8 is .rubber cemented or vulcanizedor otherwisesecured in any suitiio V inner piece let is plain and smooth, the sameas the inner piece of the vamp, while the outer piece is corrugated orfluted as shown at 16, the same as the outer piece of the vamp. Portionsof certain of the corrugations of the outer pieces 15 of the upper arerubber cemented or vulcanized as at17 to the inner piece of the upper.These inner and outer pieces leand 15 can be made of any suitablematerial, preferably rubberized fabric such as a composition of canvasand rubber or any other suitable fabric material.

.The inner side pieces 14 are connected as shown at 18, by means of arubberized fabric tape or strip 19. This strip or tape 19 is rubbercemented and vulcanized in place, thereby providing a smooth seam on theinterior of the shoe. However, this seam extends only but a shortdistance upwardly, for instance. it terminates approximately adjacentthe ankle of the wearer. Also, the lower edges of the outer side piecesof the upper are connected to the lower piece of the sole, by means of arubberized tape or strip 20, which is rubber cemented and vulcanizedinto place. In fact, the tape or strip 20 is a continuation of the stripor tape 12-. The rear opposite edges of the outer piece 15 of the upperare connected by means of a rubberized strip or tape of fabric or othermaterial 21, which is rubber cemented and vulcanized in place. Thisstrip 21 extends upwardly to the same dis .tance as the inner strip 19.It will be noted that the adjacent edges of the lnner and outer pieces14 and 15 of the upper, that is the rear portion of the shoe, areadhesively connected as shown at 22 by means of rubber cementandvulcanizing. However, the adjacent edges at this point for a distancefrom b to 0 are disconnected, thereby causing an opening to be formed atthe upper portion of the rear of the upper. By means of this opening,the pulling on and pulling off of the shoe is greatly facilitated. In

.fact, by means of this opening the foot can be easily inserted in theshoe. Furthermore, by means of this opening, the upper of the shoe isprevented from rubbing the ankle. In fact, the upper of the shoe looselyfits about the ankle and prevents rubbing. However, this opening iscovered by 'a flap or piece 24, which is suitably connected, by means ofrubber cement and vulcanizing,

nection with the interior of the shoe.

as shown at 25 to the inner portion of one of the inner pieces of theupper, while the other portion of the strip or flap overlies the rearpart of the opposite side of the upper, that is on its inner face.

The inner and outer pieces 8 and 9 of the vamp, and the inner and outerside pieces of the upper are connected, by means of the tapes or strips26 and 27. The inner tape or strip 26 is rubber cemented and vulcanizedas at 28 to the inner pieces of the vamp and the upper, therebyproviding a smooth seam. It is obvious that where the tape or strip 27is rubber cemented or vulcanized to the outer pieces of the vamp and theupper, as shown at 29, the corrugations of the outer pieces of the vampand the upper are flattened out, so that the strip or tape 27 may besecured in place. It is further obvious that the corrugations of theouter pieces of the vamp and upper are arranged to register, so that thechannels of the registered corrugations communioatively connect, andsince the corrugations of the vamp communicatively connect with thehollow. of the sole, then a thorough circulation. of air is allowed topass through the corrugations of the vamp and the upper and into thehollow of the sole. It is also obvious that as the weight of the wearerdepresses the upper pieces of the sole, air is drawn in and allowed toescape, at each step of the wearer. The air alternately acts in thismanner, thereby allowing thorough circulation of air about the foot,since the hollow of the sole is in communicative con- It is also to beremembered that Where the con tinuous tape of strip 12 or 20 connects tothe outer pieces of the vamp aud the upper, the corrugations are alsoflattened out, in order that the strip or tape may be pro pcrlyconnected or secured in place. The forward adjacent edges of the outerpieces of the upper are united by means of the rubberized strip or tape31, which is rubber cemented and vulcanized in place. The corrugationsat this point, that is where the rubberized or composition of canvas andrubber strip 81 is secured, the corrugations of the outer pieces of theupper are flattened, so as to facilitate the connection of the strip ortape in place. The forward adjacent edges of the inner pieces of theopposite sides of the'upper are connected in a similar manner, as bymeans of a strip or tape 32, which is also rubber cemented andvulcanized in place.

It will be observed that the inner side pieces 14L of the upper as shownin Fig. 7 terminates a short distance above the ankle of the wearer,thereby providing a lower shoe than that shown in the other figures ofthe drawing. However, in the other figures, a legging extension isprovided, and this legging extension 33 comprises an inner piece 34 ofrubberized. fabric, suchas acomposilated.

nately occurs, incident to each Step. of the I :tion of canvas andrubber. This inner piece 584 :eixtendsabouh the. log off the wearer, and

itsloweriedge joints the upperwedges of the imier sidepiecesofathenpper, as-shown at 35, there being a strip or tape36 covcrlngthejoint-35. This strip-or tape'36 is rubber I cemented or vulcanized inplace, thereby providing a very secure smooth seam be tween the parts.This legging extension also includes'outer side pieces37, which .have

their rear adjacent edges abutting, as shown at 38, there being avertical strip or tape 39 rubber cemented, as shown at LO to connecttheopposite outer side pieces of the legging extension. The lowerportions of the outer .oppositeside pieces of the legging GXtGIlSlOIlare connected-to the upper portions ofthe upper corrugated pieces of theupper of the shoe, as by means of the strip or tape 4&1 of rubberizedfabric, for instance a composition of canvas and rubber, or any othersuitable materialadapted to exclude water ormoisture. This strip or tapei1 is rubber cemented and vulcanized to the ad acent parts.

This tape or strip extends: about the upper portion of the upper or"the'shoe as shown clearly in*Fig.-1. The lower end of the strip or tape39xabuts'the upper rear portion of the tape or strip 4111s shown clearlyin'Figs. 1 and 5. Interposed between the inner and 'OlltGI'l-PlQCQS 34and 37 of. the logging extenslon is a corrugated or'fluted'piece 42, thecorrugations of whlch are rubber cemented and vulcanized at ail-and 44to the {K112106111} faces of the inner and outer pieces of the leggingextension. The corrugations of time in 0 terinefdiate piece formchannels,which registerwith, and therefore communicatively connect withcertain ofthe corrugations of the outer side pieces of theuppeig'tliereby permitting a thorough circulation OI air from a pointexteriorly of the upperportion of the leggmgextensmn and through theupper, through the vamp, and also through the-upper and through thehollow of the sole, therefore it is obvious that the foot of the wearernay be thoroughly venti- An intake and escape of air alterwearer, thatis as pressure is applie dcon the upper piece of the sole, yleldablycrushing the cushions betweenthe upper and lower pieces of thesole,thereby causing intakes and ejections of the air.

I'lh'e forward edges 45 of the inner and outer pieces of the loggingextension are rubber-cemented and vulcanized at =16, so as tosecure theedge portions of such pieces securely together. Additional tapes. orstrips 47 are similarly connected to theouter vfaces of the outer pieces87 of the leggingextension near the'edge portions 45, there beingsuitable perforations .48, (for instance, which are formed through thestrips 47 and the edge portions 115-), for the 1 reception of a:suitab'ledacing, whereby the legging extension may be drawn'tightlyabout the leg. "A tongue or cover piece 49 spans the opening 1 betweenthe. edge portionsto, andthis tongue is also constructed of-anysuitable' rubberize'd. fabric, or a composition of canvas aand rubber orthe like, and-is'providedqwith a 2 plurality OfZfOliClS, so :as' to'permit of a "circulation of air downwardly between'the leg-:igingeXtension-and the leg of-the wearer.

:The edge portionsaof this tongue are rubber Icemented in any suitablemanner, as shown :at 50 totheinner'face ofzthe anner-p1e'ce84: :of thelegging extension. T-helower' part of the tongue is ifastened under thestrip or tape '36, as bymeans of rubber cementing and vn'leanizing.

The invention having been set' forth, what isclainied as new and usefulis:

Y '1. In -a shoe or lining, the combination: with a hollowvcushionsole,:the inner wall :of whichhaving perforationsof-communication with theinterior-of theshoe, of an uppernnd a vampfor-said sole, having channels-of communication with the hollow ofthersole, the channels of' the upper being 'open to the atmosphere, andextendingthere- Y from upwardly of the "vamp and the upper of theshoetherebyzpermitting acirculation of'air frointthe exterior throughthesoleand into the interior of :the shoe, the upper ot the shoe havingan opening at therear through zwhich airimay passinto the shoe'to insurea circulation of air throughithesole.

2. In -a shoe or lining, the combination :with a hollow cushionsole, theinnerwall of which 5 having perforations of communi- =cation with theinterior'of theshoe,ofan

upper'anda vamp for said sole, having channels of'communication withthehollow of the sole and extending therefrom upwardly of" the vamp and theupper of the shoe, thereby: permitting a' circulation 0 fair from theexterior through the sole and into theinterior of the :shoe, anda'leggingrextension rising upwardly from the upper of theishoe andprovided with channels of com- "muni'cation with thefehannels of theupper upper and a vamp "for said "sole, having "channels ofcommunication with the 'hollow of the sole and extending "therefromupwardlyof the'yamp andthe'upper of the shoe, thereby permitting acirculation of air from 'the'exterior through the sole andinto theinteriorofthe shoe, and-a legging extension rising upwardly from theupper of :the: shoe andprovided' with: channels 'of mmmunication withthe channels of the upper of the shoe, the channels of the leggingextension being open to the atmosphere, said legging extension beingclosed at the rear and having a laced opening at the front, said lacedopening having a, covering tongue provided with a plurality of folds.

43. In a shoe of the kind set forth, the combination with a solecomprising upper and lower pieces having spacing cushion memberstherebetween, the-upper piece having perforations, therebycommunicatively connecting the interior of the shoe and the spacebetween the upper and lower pieces of the sole, of a vamp havingchannels communicatively connected to the space in the sole, said vamphaving connecting means with the sole, an upper having channelscommunicatively connecting with the channels of the vamp, the channelsof the upper being open to the atmosphere, and the space of the sole,means connecting the upper to the sole, and means for connecting theupper to the vamp.

5. In a shoe of the kind set forth, the combination with a solecomprising upper and lower pieces having spacing cushion memberstherebetween, the upper piece having perforations, therebycommunicatively connecting the interior of the shoe and the spacebetween the upper and lower pieces of the sole, of a vamp havingchannels comnnmicatively connected to the space in the sole, said vamphaving connecting means with the sole, an upper having channelscommunicatively connecting with the channels of the vamp, the channelsof the upper being open to the atmosphere, and the space I of the sole,means connecting the upper to the sole, and means for connecting theupper to the vamp, the rear part of the upper having at its rear portionan opening, thereby permitting air to pass into the shoe to insure acirculation of air through the hollow of the sole.

6. In a shoe of the kind set forth, the combination with a solecomprising upper and lower pieces having spacing cushion memberstherebetween, the upper piece having perforations, therebycommunicatively connecting the interior of the shoe and the spacebetween the upper and lower pieces of the sole, of a vamp havingchannels communicatively connected to the space in the sole, said vamphaving connecting means with the sole, an upper having channelscommunicatively connecting with the channels of the vamp, and the spaceof the sole, means connecting the upper to the sole, and means forconnecting the upper to the vamp, a legging extension rising upwardlyfrom the upper of the shoe, said legging extension having channelscommunicatively connecting with the channels of the upper, the channelsof the legging extension having their upper ends open to the atmosphere.

7. I11 a shoe of the kind set forth, the combination with a solecomprising upper and lower pieces having spacing cushion memberstherebetween, the upper piece having perforations, therebycommunicatively connecting the interior of the shoe and the spacebetween the upper and lower pieces of the sole, of a vamp havingchannels communi-' catively connected'to the space in the sole, saidvamp having connecting means with the sole, an upper having channelscommunicatively connecting with the channels of the vamp, and the spaceof the sole, means connecting the upper to the sole, and means forconnecting the upper to the vamp, a legging extension rising upwardlyfrom the upper of the shoe, said legging extension having channelscommunicatively connecting with the channels of the upper, the channelsof the legging extension having their upper ends open to the atmosphere,said legging extension having a laced opening at its forward portion,and a folded tongue covering said laced opening.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

' ANDREW M. BRUCE.

Witnesses W. M. GOTT, W. A. NEWTON.

